The Missing Piece of the Puzzle – Catherine Frachisse’s 2024 Reflection

1. Books Like No Other

A year ago, I could not have imagined what 2024 had in store for me. The past few years had been rich in lessons and challenges, but this time, my daily life would be completely turned upside down.

In January 2018, I was deeply moved by “The Most Important Speech You’ll Ever Hear” by Gary Yourofsky and became vegan. I felt a great sense of relief. I felt lighter. I was no longer the cause of the immense misfortune that animals were enduring. I no longer carried the guilt of having victims on my conscience. It amazed me that I had been part of the oppressors for 57 years.

Becoming vegan made me feel more aligned. It was as if I was freeing myself from a weight I had learned to ignore. This lightness gave me the strength to stay on course during a time in my life when I was starting to see the end of a rather dark period.

Thanks to social media, I became aware of a vegan group in my small town in Drôme. The announcement of a picnic in the beautiful weather seemed like a great idea, and I would be able to meet other vegans. I was happy to be able to talk to people “like me.” I had the particular feeling of facing an immense injustice, while neither my friends nor my family seemed to care.

It was the L214 organization that had initiated the picnic. They regularly organized local vegan events. I responded to their invitation, and these were my first public actions.

I found myself offering plant-based alternatives to strangers and talking about the benefits of eating plant-based. On other occasions, we showed images of the violence inflicted on exploited animals on signs or displayed the “real-time” count of victims of global animal exploitation.

I was acting alongside other vegans for a just cause. I drew comfort from being united in the same goal. However, I felt that something was wrong with all of this. What I didn’t yet realize was that my understanding of veganism was flawed.

It was also around this time that I discovered the “Cubes of Truth” of the organization Anonymous for the Voiceless. Their concept was quite different. I found it well thought out and effective. Paul Bashir and Asal Alamdari, the founders of this movement, led workshops teaching their method of raising awareness.

I followed some of their online workshops with great interest. I went to the meeting point in my town and participated in my first “Cube of Truth.” I carried a laptop showing the images of the violence that exploited animals endured. With the “bearers,” we formed a central square, around which other activists raised awareness among passersby who were frozen in front of the images.

The people holding the laptops, motionless and silent, would generally “turn” after a while to exchange their roles. From “image bearers,” they would become educators. I always stayed in the center. I would have liked to speak, but I felt helpless. I imagined I would be a poor advocate for the animals. Now, I realize that I was missing a key piece in my understanding of things.

I remained anonymous behind my mask, observing the reactions of passersby as they viewed the videos. Some stopped and stared. They would be joined by an activist. Others, on the contrary, seemed repelled. They quickened their pace or turned away, with disgust, annoyance, or feigned indifference, dragging along their loved ones, who were hypnotized by the screens. They had already understood the unbearable horror. Sometimes, groups of young people came to taunt me, proudly showing their hamburger as a provocation. I interpreted these reactions as strategies to stay in the comfort of ignorance. I found these moments powerful, and I could feel the gravity of what we were revealing.

I noticed, among some of the sensitizers, a firm and caring attitude. I admired them. Others, on the contrary, seemed to have a detrimental attitude: for example, one of them hurried to congratulate vegetarians and be content with a little chat, as if, in the end, nothing was serious. The pleasure of the encounter took precedence over the importance of the message. It seemed to undermine the call for a vegan world.

I participated in various “Cubes” in Valence, Lyon, and Paris. The most memorable was the one in Paris in May 2019. This extraordinary cube was part of an international tour of the organization. Paul and Asal were present. I was impressed by the number of participants and the energy and professionalism of the founders. Through their interventions, I sensed great experience and reflection. I noticed their rigor in organizing. The amount of work and energy put into it touched me. I was grateful that such actions were taking place and that I could participate, but… even though I felt more power in this movement, I still lacked a piece of the puzzle.

I was vegan and deeply convinced that it was the right and necessary thing. I wanted to share my conviction. But how could I clearly express its foundation? Facing the blank page, I listed a bunch of reasons. I couldn’t detach myself from the ones that were usually given. I sensed something simple, much more compelling. This something eluded me. I was moving forward in a fog.

This missing piece was, in fact, the cornerstone of veganism, and it appeared on my path in the spring of 2024. One day, I was surprised to receive a private message from a stranger on Facebook. Until then, Messenger was only used to communicate with my children and a few friends, so what could this stranger who congratulated me on a comment want?

At first intrigued and slightly wary, I could see that Jérémie Lopez was a vegan activist and had written two books. That was more than enough for me to respond, and we started exchanging.

Jérémie told me about his project: to build a vegan world. I immediately sensed that he was thinking outside the box. He brought completely new ideas about veganism. He was driven by an energy that seemed inexhaustible. His approach quickly made sense of what I had been seeking, without really knowing it.

I opened his books and couldn’t put them down.

The Guide to Veganism and the Guide to Vegan Activism were presented in the form of questions and answers. I expected to vaguely read the same answers I had seen elsewhere. But from the first questions in the first book, I was captivated by the change in perspective. I felt a re-centering, something subtle that gave real meaning.

I discovered the foundational ethical principle of veganism. The puzzle was falling into place. His words reached something deep inside me.

As I had hit a wall… as I searched for a clear vision of veganism and lost myself in the fog… a veil was lifting. I was discovering veganism in its original meaning. I had never questioned its origin; I was stunned.

I wrote feedback to Jérémie about his first book. I will always remember, during our subsequent video interview, when he told me, “You’ll see, the second guide is much more powerful.” How could a book be powerful?

The second book “flipped me like a pancake.” Bang! I was at a point of no return.

I understood what a powerful book meant. Some ideas resonated with each other and guided my mind. The message was striking. It told me this: we are vegan for one reason only: to give animals their freedom; giving other reasons betrays the animals; staying silent about the injustice of animal exploitation is saying it’s not serious.

I realized that I practiced veganism, but I didn’t live it.

I also learned that common activism was not vegan and betrayed the animals. It would only be later, step by step, moving from surprise to surprise, that I would truly realize the full scope of this statement.

That wasn’t all. Not only did the Guide to Vegan Activism stated the message to promote, but it also offered a masterful tool to put it into action. This tool was inspired, among other things, by the Nonviolent Communication method. It made it possible to tell the truth directly while respecting our interlocutors. It allowed working in a positive mindset, without hostility: we educate for and with, but never against.

At the end of the reading, I had no escape. It became impossible for me to remain inactive while the animals had no option to escape hell.

What I had been searching for without really being able to name it finally appeared to me with blinding clarity. It was a true understanding of veganism, free from the mistakes and detours that had emptied it of its meaning. Thanks to these readings, my perspective on activism and my own approach had changed. It was indeed about acting for the animals, but in the only truly just way: by fully respecting their freedom.

This first step towards a re-adjusted vision of veganism would mark the beginning of a much broader and transformative path. I was on the brink of a new way of seeing, thinking, and transmitting. What I would discover later would only reinforce this certainty and my commitment.

2. Behind the Veil, Clarity

I discovered the writings of Leslie J. Cross, co-founder of veganism with Donald Watson. They captivated and moved me. It was as if I were traveling back 70 years to witness the birth of the very concept of veganism. I was amazed by such depth. It was a radical challenge to our relationship with animals and, more broadly, to our relationship with the world. We were far from just a lifestyle!

I began to better understand the concept. It implied a different point of view, one that integrated a vision free of our speciesist prejudices: a paradigm shift.

These texts were strangely unknown. Spontaneously, I wanted to translate them. It was essential that all French activists could read them! Jérémie had been considering this translation for years, and he offered me the opportunity to be the first person to turn them into a book.

He also invited me to join him in his project. His ambition was vast, and with more people, the work would move faster. I was surprised and honored by his trust, even though I didn’t yet see what I could contribute. For him, what mattered most was motivation and alignment with the philosophy of his project. I accepted his proposal regarding the missions and the role of General Secretary of World Vegan Education and Vegan Education Publishing.

My training began immediately. For Jérémie, everything had to move quickly. However, I needed to be trained because a general understanding of vegan theory was essential to becoming a good vegan educator.

With Charlie Carlos Coleto, who was also based in Valencia, but in Spain, he suggested we answer “key questions.” These questions were a pedagogical tool he developed to help us clarify the concept of veganism by thinking for ourselves. I had an advantage: I had just read his two books. Charlie, on the other hand, hadn’t read them yet, and I was impressed by the depth of his responses.

As our exchanges continued, I discovered Jérémie’s extraordinary rigor, integrity, and determination. His absolute commitment, despite the challenges, confirmed the relevance and power of his vision.

The beginning was demanding: understanding the missions, mastering the tools, adapting to the ever-changing reality on the ground. It’s always like that with a new job—everything is to be learned, everything is to be understood. At times, stress would get to me, and I feared I wouldn’t measure up. But I knew why I was doing all of this. I decided that this experience would be an opportunity to progress on my tendency to self-stress.

I had planned to dedicate 3 to 5 hours a day, five days a week. But driven by the momentum of the project, and the reality of what animals endure without any respite, I worked an average of 33 hours and 20 minutes per week.

Little by little, my understanding of veganism became clearer. The fog lifted. The biases that Jérémie spoke of became visible. The non-vegan arguments that had once seemed insurmountable faded away on their own. At the same time, I was learning essential communication techniques to act with respect and kindness. These two concepts, often emptied of meaning, were here put into action concretely. To me, they were the foundation and originality of the approach.

As all of this progressed, I became more confident and ready to test my theoretical knowledge. I did so in August 2024 in Marseille.

On the corniche, I embarked on my first conversations.

One of the key points for me, in the approach developed by Jérémie, was never to confuse ideas with the people who hold them. I could now approach passersby with a positive mindset: they weren’t vegan yet because they weren’t sufficiently informed. The questions they asked were not made in bad faith but were the result of speciesist indoctrination in which our world was immersed. My role was to tell them the truth and confront them with their responsibility. After that, they could choose: become vegan… or not. But at least they would know where they stood.

That day was enriching. I had overcome my apprehension and learned a lot. Jérémie offered me the position of deputy director of his associations, and I accepted it. I later understood that this was a recognition of my commitment.

In September, the translation of the English version of the books became a priority. The task was colossal. It was actually an improvement of the first version of the first guide and a complete overhaul of the second guide. I participated actively: pre-translation, finding English-speaking proofreaders, video interviews, successive proofreading. Each proofreading was an opportunity to go deeper, detect an error, question a word choice or sentence structure. There was always something new that appeared. I believe proofreading a book is never finished! Especially since Jérémie is committed to constantly improving his work.

I had the opportunity to collaborate with a few proofreaders, and since November, I have been communicating regularly with Harsha Paulraj, who has been involved with professionalism in proofreading the books. Watching the books take shape before my eyes was incredible. They were going to be a valuable contribution to the vegan movement.

At the same time, an important and very instructive task that marked the past year was initiating “divisive” conversations on Facebook. Through this activity, Jérémie wanted to push me to feel the frustration, misunderstanding, and face the bad faith of “anti-vegan” vegans. He also wanted to improve my ability to argue. In these conversations, reminding people of the foundation of veganism was often unheard of. The dominant paradigm of “vegan” activism relied on non-vegan justifications, such as health or the environment. Questioning it raised waves of protests, sometimes even leading to censorship. It was crazy!

The exchanges were rich, but sometimes violent: contempt, condescension, even defamation of Jérémie. I learned to respond with rigor, always bringing the debate back to the essentials.

The feeling of dissatisfaction I had experienced became clear: the vegan movement, as it existed, was out of step with the foundation of veganism. The idea of veganism being promoted was devoid of substance because the perspective remained centered on human interests.

Today, everything is crystal clear: it is only about justice and freedom for animals.

3. 2024, A Year of Transformation.

This year working alongside Jérémie has been full of lessons. The project within World Vegan Education, the vegan education association, and Vegan Education Publishing, the vegan publishing house, is ambitious, demanding, and filled with hope. We are receiving little positive feedback at the moment, but this does not shake our motivation because it’s logical: if building a vegan world were easy, it would already be done. Jérémie’s determination and faith are driving forces. Big projects take time and perseverance, and the first effects are not always visible.

As the year comes to an end, I see a hopeful sign for the near future: Jérémie is now surrounded by Charlie, Sébastien, and myself. The team has grown from 1 to 4. What matters is the quality of each member to unequivocally and uncompromisingly carry the ethical message. This is an essential condition for its success.

Today, after six months of work within WVE and VEP, I can testify that I have gained a much stronger understanding and awareness of the ethical principle of veganism and the urgency to act: animals are living through an unbearable injustice, perpetrated with impunity before everyone’s eyes, and they have no means to defend themselves.

I know that on my own, I would never have reached this level of understanding or been able to act. Therefore, my role, which I consider as one of support, assistance, and backing, allows me to find my place in an activism that completely makes sense to me.

Everything we do is aimed at serving the advent of a vegan world. Jérémie displays a kind of genius, as if every action is driven by this urgency. It is inspiring to see this energy put into action so determinedly and thoughtfully. The path he proposes is as unique as it is just, and I perceive its true potential power.

The challenge for the coming years will be to spread the educational theory of World Vegan Education and to rally people to build a true vegan movement.

Within the recognized French “vegan” movement, ideas that are essentially non-vegan are deeply ingrained. This is also one of the major discoveries I have made in the last six months.

When I read Jérémie’s books, it was clear to me that he would be recognized for his true worth and bring about a kind of liberating movement. Yet, I found that he is almost always perceived as a threat, questioning the established order. For now, he is almost always rejected and criticized. Why? Because he disturbs and challenges.

This observation, although very surprising at first, is ultimately quite logical. A system and errors rooted for decades cannot be easily uprooted. I have faith in the power of a just message, and I have no doubt that Jérémie is right to unwaveringly hold to his course. The path he proposes is difficult, but it is the only one worth considering. To deviate from it would mean to do like everyone else and change nothing.

Vegan Education Publishing’s goals this year are to publish the English, Spanish, and French versions of the two books in their new edition. The publication of Leslie Cross – The Hero of Veganism and Becoming Vegan in 1 Month – 40 Easy Meals to Get Started are also planned. These projects are already underway. The publication of Journey Through Andalusia is also part of the 2025 objectives (as of the time of writing, February 2025, the publication goals have been adjusted, and the release of the English version will be the main event of the year).

In addition, a YouTube channel, “Jérémie Lopez,” is being prepared with the creation of 30 videos. This work started in November with the arrival of Sébastien Rémy, who joined the team.

The holding of one vegan education session per month, which Jérémie had planned with World Vegan Education, was fully achieved in 2024 and should continue.

In 2025, I will aim for greater efficiency and work on consolidating and improving my knowledge. I will pay close attention to my difficulty in sustaining effort over time. The key to this is staying connected to my motivation.

I see two areas of work for achieving this goal:

• Understanding and knowledge of vegan theory.

• Implementing better organization in my work along three paths:

Improve certain tools or methods;

Adopt more regular schedules;

Improve my communication style.

From an operational standpoint, I will have four major priorities:

1. Grow the ranks by developing a recruitment dynamic.

2. Nourish social media to gain visibility.

3. Translate and proofread the books scheduled for 2025.

4. Delegate as new people join our team.

The path will be long and demanding, but it will gain strength and speed over time, inexorably. It will begin by gradually building a following, then become more visible, and eventually spread exponentially.

This is what I understood in 2024 and what I am deeply convinced of.

A big thank you to all.

Catherine FRACHISSE